Woodmont golf course plan to go before Tamarac commission

TAMARAC — A plan to build 152 single-family homes on a defunct golf course passed its first hurdle as the city's Planning Board agreed to the concept, pushing it to a City Commission vote on April 15.

Deciding what to do with the golf course in the upscale Woodmont community has been a source of contention for years. Residents wanted their view left alone, and the owner argued it wasn't financially feasible to leave it as a course.

The newest plan, which has the city staff's blessing, calls for the houses, as well as 30,000 square feet of commercial space, on 39 acres of the Pines golf course that closed more than a year ago.

It's the latest push from Woodmont Country Club owner Mark Schmidt. For years, residents in Woodmont came out en masse to protest his plans. In 2006, Schmidt proposed 448 housing units and a luxury hotel. Residents said they wanted their golf course views left intact. The plan, revised numerous times to include less housing, was defeated in 2007.

Then a few years later, Schmidt proposed 255 single-family houses and nearly 61,000 square feet of commercial space. Schmidt withdrew his plan after residents hired lawyers and pledged to fight the project.

Now his plan includes even less housing and half the commercial space. Schmidt said he envisions "casual dining, a couple nice restaurants, maybe a bank, maybe some national retail tenants."

So far his Montreal-based developers, who have built in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, have etched out two models — three or four bedrooms — and the homes will start in the high $200,000s.

"You have to understand, it generates a tremendous amount of fees for the city — water and sewer fees, taxes," he said. "It's a great thing for the city. In this design, almost everybody losing golf course gains water [with makeshift lakes or canals], that's why we're down to 152 homes — to increase buffers. It's a plan that's most beneficial to the community."

The city is also requiring Schmidt to re-open nine of the 18 holes on the Pines course. The 18-hole Cypress championship course will remain intact.

But some of the residents who once fought so hard to preserve their golf views might be resigned to development because "this plan is the best plan so far," said resident Lee Viverette.

"I think they are tired of fighting more than anything," Viverette said. "And the current plan does not get rid of the golf course, the previous plan did. From that perspective, we're not losing the entire golf course, and this plan is less dense than the prior plan. It's more acceptable than losing an entire golf course. Obviously we would rather have both golf courses operating, but that's not happening."

If the City Commission approves the plan, it still needs county and state approval. Construction could begin in the spring of 2014.

Neil Karman, co-president for the Woodmont Property Owners Association, said he was "disappointed" the planning board approved the project last week, and said he hoped the City Commission will ask more questions.

He said he has concerns with the course layout, and the traffic so close to Taravella High School.

Keenan Poole, who helped organize the protests in years past, said he's relieved the plans call for at least one fairway behind his street.

"It's a lot better than the last proposal," he said. "Am I still against it, yes — with all the empty stores we have in the city, why do we need more commercial space?"